Wildlife Fund Thailand shuts down
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 2007:
BANGKOK–Wildlife Fund Thailand president Pisit na Phattalung
on June 19, 2007 abruptly suspended WFT operations and laid off all
40 staff and volunteers, effective on July 27.
“Pisit cited financial constraints. WFT staff were
skeptical,” reported Apinya Wipatayotin of the Bangkok Post, “saying
Pisit used the financial problems to get rid of staff who had accused
him of misconduct– such as involvement [through his private company
Asian Wildlife Consultancy] in the export of eight Thai elephants to
Australian zoos [in November 2006], providing rare species of
wildlife to the Chiang Mai Night Safari park, and using his position
as foundation president to attain a post at the privately-run Siam
Ocean World aquarium.”